29th
April 2018.
During my recent visit to Kanchipuram on 29th
April 2018, to see the Buddha statues in
and around Kanchipuram. The Capital City of Pallava's reign, which once flourished with Buddhism, now has only a few Buddha Statues scattered here and there as remains of Buddhism. The first royal
patron of Buddhism in the Tamil land was Asoka and somebody claims his Son and missionary monk Mahinda. They built stupas at Kanchi in the 3rd
century BC. According to the Tamil classic, Manimekhalai, King Killivalan built
a Buddha Vihara at Kanchi. Up to the 6th Century Buddhism was patronized by the
Pallava Kings. It is believed that several famous Buddhist monks lived in Kanchipuram
which includes Bodhidharma, Buddhadatta, Dhammapala, Dignana, and Buddhaghosa.
During the reign of the Pallava king, Narasimhavarman II (c.
700-728 or 69s,.722), a Buddhist Vihara was constructed at Nagapattinam exclusively for the Chinese marine traders known as a Chinese monastery, and the same was recorded by
Marco Polo in 1292 CE, during his visit to Tamil Nadu. After Pallava, Buddhism started declining and the same was
revived during Chozha's reign. King Rajaraja extended support to Buddhist
institutions. During his rule, he encouraged Sri Mara Unagavarman, the Sailendra Ruler of Sri Vijaya.) to build a Buddha Vihara at Nagapattinam called Chudamani Vihara. This Vihara existed till the late 17th century.
The
Buddhists seem to have been successful from the 3rd century BC, but the
religion began to decline after the seventh century. As per the historians, this
may be due to the lack of royal patronage and the rise of the Tamil Shaivite Bhakti
movement by the Saints like Appar, Thirugnanasambandar, Sundarar, and Manickavasagar.
We
had seen the Buddha Statues at Karukkinil Amarnthaval Amman temple, Reliefs on
the Pillars of Thurukachinerikaraikadu and Kachabeswarar temples, in the
previous posts of this blog as remains of Buddhism. Some more remains of Buddhism in and around
Kanchipuram are covered in this post also.
BUDDHA STATUE AT GOVT. C M SUBBARAYA MUDALI HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL,
KANCHIPURAM
This
Buddha belongs to the 6th century and the same was unearthed during
digging for a well. It was told that the Buddha was sitting under a sarakondrai
tree. The tree along with Buddha was uprooted during the 1964 cyclone and Buddha
was straightened later. It was also said that devotes offer pooja on pournami/ full moon days. Buddha is in a seated posture with
hands are Dhyana mudra. Ushnisha above his head is shown like a flame.
BUDDHA AT GOVT. C M SUBBARAYA MUDALI HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL : CLICK HERE
These
Buddha reliefs might have been brought from a dilapidated Buddhist temple in Kanchipuram.
This group has 7 reliefs of which 3 nos are chiseled on a single stone. Two reliefs
are made like deva koshtam with pilasters
and Thiruvasi or manicharam. This is a unique feature of Buddha statues available
in Thondai mandalam.
BUDDHA RELIEFS ON THE COMPOUND WALL OF EKAMBARESWARAR TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
BUDDHA STATUE AT SHIVA KANCHI POLICE
STATION.
This 10th-century Buddha is in a
seating posture on a lotus pedestal with hands in dhyana hastham. Ushnisha is
also shown as a flame over his head. A small canopy was erected by Mr Walter
Devaram, then the inspector General of Police in 1992.
LOCATION OF THE BUDDHA AT SHIVA KANCHI POLICE STATION : CLICK HERE
This 6th-century Buddha is in a Vinayagar Temple along with a recently
unearthed Thirthangarar from a farmland. Buddha is seated on a pedestal
supported by 3 squatting Lions. One of
the special features of this Buddha is, along with ushnisha, a manicharam or the
thiruvasi also shown on the back of his head. A Dharmachakra stone is also found on the end of the street opposite to the Vinayagar Temple.
Dharmachakra
LOCATION OF THE BUDDHA AT KANIKILUPPAI : CLICK HERE
BUDDHA STATUES AT PALLUR NEAR
ARAKONAM.
These
three Buddhas were unearthed from a farmland by a farmer Nagappan about 90 years before. As per the Expert Mr Vijay Kumar, the middle Buddha belongs to the 11th century and the other two Buddhas belong to Mid 9th Century. They are
now housed in a shelter constructed by Thai Buddhists. After facing a lot of
problems in protecting the Statues, the Temple, and the land by the Villagers, the
temple is being taken care of by Mr Muthukumar, the son of Mr Nagappan.
The
first Buddha on the left is a little smaller than the Middle Buddha. Hands are in
Dhyana Eastham. Ushnisha is beautifully shown along with a manicharam behind
both ears. The neck wrinkles clearly show the enlightenment age of Buddha. This Buddha idol belongs to mid 9th Century CCE.
INSCRIPTION ON THE TOP OF THE
ENTRANCE
This
temple was inaugurated on 10th May 1998, by the Buddhist Welfare Meditation Trust, No 15, Chennai -82. Deputy Speaker Parithi Ilamvazhuthi
opened this Vihar. These Statues were found by Mr Nagappan, 80 years before. This
inscription was inaugurated on 28th February 1999, by Acharya
Bhikku Logopalo, President of International Meditation Centre Budhgaya, in the presence of Dr Kamala Sankrityayana, Government of India Minority Commission.
Donors P A Payutto Phra D. Saenyod, Thailand, Chandrasekar. Trustees: Kothandan,
Y M Muthu, Santhosham, Manimagalai
The
Middle Buddha is bigger and tallest of all the three with hands in dhyana
hastham. Along with beautiful ushnisha, a Thiruvasi or the manicharam-like
makara thorana is shown on the back of
the full head. The neck wrinkles clearly
show the enlightenment age of Buddha. This Buddha belongs to the 11th Century CE.
The
third Buddha on the right side is a little different from the other two. Looks cute.
Smaller of all the three without
Thiruvasi or manicharam. Buddha is in a
seated position with his left hand in dhyana hastham and his right hand in Bhoomi
sparsha hastham, showing the Buddha’s enlightenment. The neck wrinkles clearly show the enlightenment age of Buddha. This Buddha belongs to Mid 9th Century CCE.
LOCATION OF THE BUDDHA TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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